The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-11-12
THE WRONG HARRY.
'Helloo, Marvell! Going out Of
-,

and shouting of officials sounding pre-
teruasurally loud through the fog, and
the tide of travellers rushing hither aud
thither after the manner Of excited
voyagers five minutes before the start
ing OF the train.
The gentleman thus debonnairly adj
dressed as ssNIarveIi" was handsome
six footer, with fur-trimmed cloak,
tasseled travelling cap and pair OF
very bright, brown eyes, just visible
above his wraps and muff1inss.
ooh it's you, is it, Dixon ?" he re-
tOrted, Witu a genuine American hand
clasp.
ssYes, I'm going up the river few
miles to visit some cousins I've never
seen before.''
"Girls?'
'sOi .course-do you suppose I'd en-
counter q night ride for any hulking
son of Adam:"
"Lucky fellow" cried Dixon. "Wish
it was me. But, goodbye, my train is
just off,"
Aud darting away he was lost in the
fog.
While Mr.. Harry MARVEL, leisurely
taking his seat in the cars, made such
preparations as were practicable under
the circumstances for a comfortable
journey.
"I suppose, of course, they'll be at
the depot to meet me-" he said to him
self. "And daresay shall like them
| very much, although they can't be
very young. Three fem, too. Fancy
me making small talk to an elderly
aunt and three middle-aged maidens.
Well, ii the skating is good, and there
is game in the woods, can manage
two days without absolutely dying of
ennui."
Thus cogitating Mr.. MarveIl fell fast
asleep, and never awakened until the
conductor shook him by the shoulder.
HWanted to get out at Fair Oaks,
didn't you, sir ?" said he.
"Fair Oaks-yes," our hero answer
ed, staggering to his feet, and vaguely
rubbing his eyes.
.Here you are then! Look alive,
sir !" shouted the conductor, swinging
his lamp about as if it were magnifi-
ed wiil-o'-the wisp.
And Harry MARVEL, half asleep,
found himself staring on the platform,
as the train gsided slowly away, a
moving line of fiery smoke floating
above it.
It's it Harry?" demanded q swee.
feminine voice, close to him.
"Harry it is" no answered promptly
"I'm Lottie -
s.Ob, you're Lottie, are you ?'
sand here's Mamie-and Louise"'
"Glad to see you, I'm sure" said
Harry, shaking in turn the hands thai
l Of t<> hi horinni,r ~ ff
perceive by the station light that hi:
three cousins were very young, very
din.pled and very rosy, and very pret
ty, and that they wore distractine
costumes of blue velvet and chinchi1I,
fur, with gray plumes in their hats
and flossy yellow locks, blown hithe
and thither by the brisk wind, llk'
woven gold.
.Must have been some mistake abou
their ages" thought Harry, as he al
lowed himself to be deposited in {
roomy family sleigh, close to the blue
eyed girl whom they called Louise.
"That's right" said Mamie, with
gfggie; s'sit as close as you can-re
member you're to be married to he
tomorrow night, Harry!"
"Married ~ Our hero sat bolt up
right at these tidings. "Oh, come, now
you're not in earnest?"
Eyes, we are,' said Mamie,
"Dead in earnest" added Lottie.
"It's Leap Year!" said Mamie
"And a bachelor like you mustn't ex
pect to remain in the market long,
interposed rogujsh Lottie.
"Girls. don't be goosies," said Mis-
Louise, as Harry MARVEL was begin
ming to feel remarkably uncomfortable
"Harry don't mind 'em. It's only i
the parlor theatricals, you known
"Oh I" said Harry. "The parfor the
atricals, eh ?''
, "Because Joe Balfour's sister wa
, sick, and he can't take the part OF tn
bridegroom. And Lptiie and / mad
sure you woulI do for it. You ca
j. commit to memory easily, can't you !!
"Like house on fire. ~ sad Harr
rtcklessly.
: I knew ii,' cried Louise. "Bu
Harry, what superb big beard 20
have grown since we saw you last !"
81 think he's getting to be regn!s
dandy" said Mamie, archly.
s, "Apd his voice mas changed, too
and he's little taller, I think" addc
IIottie, medita;ively.
Harry began to experience diss
greeable sense OF something radicals
wrong. The buffalo robed sleigh Wi
decidedly comfortabie-hisp propinquit
I'd to the biae-eyed, ,hrush-voicad Loui.
- was luxurious in the extreme, and b
two vis-a-vis were dangerously pret
h,,t 40 hauap IN foo, i'm vp